It can be easy to forget that “famous people” were just people at some point in their lives, even if they did have a bit of a head start. However, the few folks out there who interacted with celebrities before they were just that often have a very different perspective on what these people were like.
Someone wanted to hear the stories of folks who knew A-listers before they were famous and netizens delivered. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section down below.

#1

John Goodman threw my baby shower for my mom. She worked for him, and said he’s an incredibly nice and gentle person. This was before his acting days.
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37points
#2

My dad used to babysit Nicole Kidman when she was a little kid. She thought it was hilarious to make him chase her through the mangroves in the middle of the Australian summer, he strongly disagreed with that. He did say she was a very hard worker once she started acting and very kind to people and animals - nothing but nice things to say about her and her family (except the babysitting stories).
32points
#3

Cillian Murphy is a good family friend. He grew up with my dad and his brothers. Never changed at all. Been to a few sets. Tom Hardy in person.. I owe him that. Colin Farrell is one of my uncles best friends from secondary and is the nicest fella ever. He was over in my uncles one day I was there and realised it was my 21st a week before and gave me 500 quid 🤣🤣🤣
Most irish celebs stay normal. We hate anyone like McGregor. If you let fame get to ya you go in the fkn bin.
Most irish celebs stay normal. We hate anyone like McGregor. If you let fame get to ya you go in the fkn bin.
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29points
#4

My sister dated Sean William Scott in h**h school and he babysat me once. Humble and super kind guy. Saw him after American Pie. He recognized me walking past him and stopped me to say hello. Was still humble and kind. Good dude.
28points
#5

I went to HS with a beautiful soul that the drag world would one day know as Chi Chi Devayne. He was a hard worker and incredibly charming. Everyone loved him. Being an out and proud gay black man in the south wasn’t easy, I know. I really respected him for being so true to himself.
Little anecdote - My dad wouldn’t let me cut my VERY long hair, so he and some other pals would braid it in very intricate braids that my dad hated soooo much, he finally let me cut it, LOL.
The world is a little darker without Chi Chi in it. We miss you, babe.
Little anecdote - My dad wouldn’t let me cut my VERY long hair, so he and some other pals would braid it in very intricate braids that my dad hated soooo much, he finally let me cut it, LOL.
The world is a little darker without Chi Chi in it. We miss you, babe.
26points
#6

I went to college with Adam Driver. He was a nice, quiet, guy and incredibly talented. We had a cast party once at his off-campus house he shared with some friends. He was one of those people who was kind of quiet until he got on stage, and then he just came alive.
25points
#7

I went to school with Margot Robbie, she really is as lovely as she seems.
Some of her friends weren’t nice, but she actually stuck up for me when they were cruel to me when we were young.
Some of her friends weren’t nice, but she actually stuck up for me when they were cruel to me when we were young.
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22points
#8

My grandmother taught French and her favorite h**h school student was Jamie Lee Curtis. Said she was a sweet girl. My moms next door neighbor was Ed Asner. My moms parents were very absent and Ed was a stand in parent for her when she was little. He would help her with homework and everything. An Angel of a man. My moms h**h school bully was Cathy Hilton (Paris hiltons mom)- the whole family has always been awful and entitled. Also my aunt dated the lead singer of Devo and broke his heart. A few popular songs were written about her.
21points
#9

My partner was good friends with Heath Ledger. He burned the handle off his coffee pot, it was a long running joke for about 10 years that he kept saying he didn't have the money to replace it.
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19points
#10

Two of my college friends were in a drama group as teens with Jack Gleeson (Prince Joffrey in Game of Thrones).
When I started watching GoT my housemate (who I’ve known since I was 5) came home and started watching with me then went “What? Is that Jack Gleeson!? He was in school with my little brother - he’s had dinner at our house!”
I met him at a play one of my friends put on and had a brief chat - he was very excited that I was reading the books, asked where I was “I just got to the wedding…” meaning The Red Wedding, he absolutely misinterpreted this information and jumped around getting excited “Can you believe I die from p****n???” - the look on my face told him all he needed to know and he was so apologetic. I reassured him that if I was gonna be spoiled I’m glad he was the one to do it.
Super cool guy, and nothing like Joffrey IRL.
When I started watching GoT my housemate (who I’ve known since I was 5) came home and started watching with me then went “What? Is that Jack Gleeson!? He was in school with my little brother - he’s had dinner at our house!”
I met him at a play one of my friends put on and had a brief chat - he was very excited that I was reading the books, asked where I was “I just got to the wedding…” meaning The Red Wedding, he absolutely misinterpreted this information and jumped around getting excited “Can you believe I die from p****n???” - the look on my face told him all he needed to know and he was so apologetic. I reassured him that if I was gonna be spoiled I’m glad he was the one to do it.
Super cool guy, and nothing like Joffrey IRL.
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19points
#11

A good friend of mine used to go to parties and have sleepovers with Margot Robbie I think just after Home and Away but pre her Hollywood success. She's super nice apparently! My friend doesn't really see her anymore bc she was more on the outskirts of that friend group, but apparently Margot still keeps in pretty good touch with the other hometown friends.
19points
#12

A friend went on a date with Michael Buble before he was big. She said his ego was prematurely big. There was no second date.
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18points
#13

My older step siblings went to school with Channing Tatum. Apparently 100% himbo.
15points
#14

A friend knew Ariana Grande before she was famous, back in her early Broadway days. Apparently she was always [mean].
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15points
#15

My mother met Lil Wayne when she worked at Walmart near New Orleans. She said he was polite and said yes ma’am no ma’am to all the older employees. She said he asked her if she knew who he was, she said no. He asked if she had a son or nephews, she said yes. He signed some copies of his album and gave them to her and told her to tell my older brother/cousins he said hi. She said “For what?” Lol.
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15points
#16

A friend of mine grew up with Ali Wong. Apparently she was always hilarious and said [stuff] that was way outta pocket.
14points
#17

My best friend in h**h school was The Weekend’s cousin. He would always have me over for dinner after studying and his mom would make this incredible Ethiopian spread where a bunch of the extended family would attend. So ya, I shared a couple of dinners with Abel.
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13points
#18

I was in a 3rd/4th grade split class with Emma Roberts. She thought she was soooo cool because her aunt is Julia Roberts, and she never shut up about it. She was a mean girl, at least to 8 year old me.
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13points
#19

I went to School with Eminem's little brother, however, my Boss at the time grew up friends with Eminem's family.
I was 16 working my first job at the mall. I got transferred from my store at the 'nice mall', to the sister store at the 'not so nice Mall' in a bad part of town, to cover for a girl that had to have surgery.
My boss at the place I was covering grew up with him and would say, 'He's just Marshall to me'. Which was hilarious after that line in his song came out. 😂
Anyways, she said he was a very angry kid that grew up into a teenager that ended up being a very driven and hard worker. (Still angry, but didn't let it control him as much)
She also said his Mom was worse than the lyrics in his song refer to. And that she deliberately tried to keep him down and ruin opportunities for him. Big or small.
That's all I got. His brother was a brat in highschool. But I honestly don't hold it against him. I think most teenagers with a famous family member probably don't handle it very gracefully.
I was 16 working my first job at the mall. I got transferred from my store at the 'nice mall', to the sister store at the 'not so nice Mall' in a bad part of town, to cover for a girl that had to have surgery.
My boss at the place I was covering grew up with him and would say, 'He's just Marshall to me'. Which was hilarious after that line in his song came out. 😂
Anyways, she said he was a very angry kid that grew up into a teenager that ended up being a very driven and hard worker. (Still angry, but didn't let it control him as much)
She also said his Mom was worse than the lyrics in his song refer to. And that she deliberately tried to keep him down and ruin opportunities for him. Big or small.
That's all I got. His brother was a brat in highschool. But I honestly don't hold it against him. I think most teenagers with a famous family member probably don't handle it very gracefully.
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13points
#20

My husband went to high school & was good friends with Harry Connick Jr. He & his now wife Jill came to our wedding, and we were invited to theirs’ the next year but my older brother got married the same day so we couldn’t go. Both are very nice and down to Earth.
My mother in law went to undergrad with Jerry Springer. They went to different law schools but kept in touch, and she invited him to my wedding. He was very friendly & was a great sport when my 12-year-old brother & his friends did the “Jerry, Jerry, Jerry” chant at our reception 🤣.
My mother in law went to undergrad with Jerry Springer. They went to different law schools but kept in touch, and she invited him to my wedding. He was very friendly & was a great sport when my 12-year-old brother & his friends did the “Jerry, Jerry, Jerry” chant at our reception 🤣.
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13points


